Classical and Medieval Latin examples for learners
Photo: https://mainzerbeobachter.com/tag/julia-restuta/. 2nd-3rd c. AD. National Archaeological Museum, Zagreb
D(is) M(anibus)
Iūl(iae) Restutae infēlicissimae interfectae annōr(um) X caus(ā) ornāmentōr(um)
Iūl(ius) Restut(us) et Statia Pudentill(a) parent(es)
CIL III 2399
DIS·MANIBVS·M·DOMITI
VS·PRIMIGENIVS·FECITSIBI
ET·SVIS·LIBERTTIS·LIBERTABVSQ
POSTERISQVEEORUM
Dīs mānibus M. Domitius Prīmigenius fēcit sibi et suīs libertīs libertābusque posterīsque eōrum.
Marble cinerary urn with lid. Roman ca. A.D. 90–110. British Museum 27.122.2a, b (Fletcher Fund, 1927)
Hexagonal statue base. RIB 21. Museum of London: 3375
D M
CL MARTI
NAE AN XIX
ANENCLE
TVS
PROVINC
CONIVGI
PIENTISSIMAE
H S E
D(is) M(anibus) | Cl(audiae) Marti|nae an(norum) XIX | Anencle|tus | provinc(ialis) | coniugi | pientissimae | h(ic) s(ita) e(st)
Note: provincialis seems to mean “slave of the province.”
Silver ring from Castell Collen Roman fort
ca. 300 AD. Inscription for Prisca, the wife of the emperor Diocletian.
AVRELIAE
PRISCAE
NOBILISSIMAE
FEMINAE
(1) Base with the inscription of the Empress Prisca, Diocletian’s wife; found at #Salona (Croatia), ca. 300 AD. Split Archaeological Museum pic.twitter.com/icKjGuwfoG
— Tom Ljevar (@tomljevar) March 10, 2017
Note the small, “superscripted” final e of nobilissimae
Nil lascivius est Charisiano:
Saturnalibus ambulat togatus.
Excellent discussion at https://llewelynmorgan.com/2014/10/11/help-me-is-this-funny/
Dominus suae ancillae
Gold, snake-shaped bracelet found with a woman near Pompeii
Dē rānā et bove
Inops potentem dum vult imitari perit.
In prato quondam rana conspexit bovem,
et tacta invidia tantae magnitudinis
rugosam inflavit pellem; tum natos suos
interrogavit an bove esset latior.
illi negarunt. rursus intendit cutem
maiore nisu, et simili quaesivit modo,
quis maior esset. illi dixerunt bovem.
novissime indignata, dum vult validius
inflare sese, rupto iacuit corpore.
Phaedrus 1.24
ad Marcum Tullium Ciceronem
Disertissime Romuli nepotum,
quot sunt quotque fuere, Marce Tulli,
quotque post aliis erunt in annis,
gratias tibi maximas Catullus
agit pessimus omnium poeta,
tanto pessimus omnium poeta,
quanto tu optimus omnium patronus.
LIBERTAS PUBLICA
Bronze sestertius. ca. AD 68. From http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotviewer.php?LotID=925499&AucID=1769&Lot=459&Val=7c56c753ef19ae9792a16f607ae62d11
MATRI MAGNAE
Gold aureus. AD 170-176. Reverse: Cybele, towered, draped, seated right on throne between two lions, holding drum. From http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotviewer.php?LotID=920584&AucID=1760&Lot=858&Val=2a242043001a6435884e7a96530dae64
PAX PUBLICA
Silver denarius. ca. AD 238. From http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?param=53595q00.jpg&vpar=739&zpg=65678&fld=http://www.forumancientcoins.com/Coins2/
PACI AUGUSTAE
Gold aureus. ca. AD 46–47. From http://www.ancientcoins.ca/RIC/RIC1/RIC1_Claudius.htm